Scientists are debunking the belief that sperm with longer tails (and therefore are capable of producing more propulsion activity) are evolutionarily favored. New thinking suggests that because sperm are so small and relatively slow moving, they operate on very different hydrodynamic terms than we do at human size. Researchers say that it’s not only the size of the tail that matters, but also the size of the sperm’s head, which can produce a significant amount of drag that can slow them down. Therefore, just because a sperm has a large tail does not mean it can swim faster.
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Tags: drag, propulsion, size, sperm, tail
Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
December 25th, 2008 at 3:13 am
I was blessed that mine were trained olympic swimmers that specialized in the breast stroke. So on there way by the uterus one swimmer would always “drop in” to stay awhile. So look at me now~~> 7 children later. So ladies keep your chin up along with your hopes, desires and prayers because if you do. On one of those hot steamy sessions with your lover his swimmer will get there too !